Whether you own a brick-and-mortar store on a busy city street, or in a small town nook, you shouldn’t have to limit your business to the same mundane tactics as everyone else. If you want to attract new customers and keep them coming back for more, you need to capture their attention and make your business stand out from the rest.
It is a very competitive market, for any brick-and-mortar store, which is why it is of the utmost importance to think about why a customer would choose you over another store on the street.
Before you get started with a strategy, it is first vital that you understand who your ideal customer is. Do you know who they are, what they like, what they don’t like, and their purchasing behaviors?
Once you understand who you want to attract, you can start devising your plans. Here are some ideas to spark some inspiration that will make your business stand out from the rest, increase your foot traffic, and capitalize on creativity.
Create a Unique Window Display
It’s not good propping up your best-selling products in the window of your store, because guaranteed that every store on the street is doing the same thing. You must be different and get creative with your shop window. Use props and tools to get creative and tell a story. Make people stop in their tracks and look at your display, perhaps even wondering what it means. Avoid the cluttered, predictable look and make a display that is bold, unique, and will surprise customers. Not only will you attract more foot traffic from those walking by, but people now love to take pictures and post on social media when they see something special, therefore, spreading your reach and making your efforts worthwhile.
Extend Your Shop Outside
Think of the garden space, the roof, the street outside as an extension to your business. Any space you can get your hands on, you should utilize. Grab the attention of those walking by adding a pop-up coffee and cake store to entice customers to spend more time at your store, a little seating area for people to hang out, products that people can test, add some banners that will draw attention, or add your brand colors with pavement surface coatings outside your building.
Evoke the Senses
It has been shown that evoking a range of senses can influence a customer’s purchasing decisions. Think back to a time that you entered a shop, like Lush or Hollister, which are known for their aromatic atmosphere, or a store that was playing your favorite music. When you evoke more senses other than sight, it is likely to increase the traffic that enters your shop by appealing to your ideal customer. You can do this by ensuring you know who your customers are, what they like, and how you can merge that with your brand image. The atmosphere of a shop is everything, and can set you apart from your competitors.
It is time to think outside the box and set yourself apart from your competitors.
